HCMC in the News

Hennepin County Medical Center in the NewsView recent medical stories from local and national media featuring experts from Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis.

St. Jude device gives early warning on heart failureStar Tribune, 2/27/15
Dr. Fouad Bachour showed St. Jude Medical’s CardioMEMS device to Joe Jones before implanting it into him on Thursday at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis. HCMC is the first hospital in the Twin Cities to offer this therapy for heart failure patients.

That’s what KARE 11 discovered after putting four sleep-deprived volunteers to the test recently on a closed course. Doctors at the Hennepin County Medical Center helped organize the experiment. The night before, sleep specialists at HCMC hooked up the volunteers with wires so doctors can monitor their brain waves while they drive.

8 things you need to know about sleepMinnesota Public Radio, 2/23/15
Sleep experts — Dr. Imran Khawaja of the Minnesota Regional Sleep Disorders Center at HCMC and Lauren Hale of the National Sleep Foundation journal Sleep Health — joined MPR News to talk about the latest research and tips for getting a better night’s rest.

But HCMC Acupuncturist Lena Beste doesn’t give Schmidt traditional painkillers. Instead, she inserts thin acupuncture needles into Schmidt’s skin at strategic points in her body, and that’s where they’ll stay for the next 25 minutes.

Study says teens growing more sleep deprivedWCCO Radio, 2/16/15
Dr. Louis Kazaglis is a sleep medicine physician at Hennepin County Medical Center. He says teens who are sleep deprived are more likely to get in car accidents, and are prone to depression, academic problems, substance abuse and weight gain.

The health benefits of being bilingualNorthwest Cable 12, 2/3/15
“There have been a couple of studies that have shown that bilingualism may delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease by up to five years,” said Anne Murray, MD, a geriatrician, internist, and epidemiologist specializing in dementia at Hennepin County Medical Center.

“It can save lives,” he said. “We’re almost inviting diseases from the past back into our life through our maybe well-intentioned but misinformed behaviors. There’s really no reason not to get your child vaccinated.”

30 years later, Minn. doctor still opening doors in fight against AIDSMPR, 1/29/15
Dr. Keith Henry still remembers the first patient he lost to AIDS. It was late spring 1984 and a young college instructor came to Henry’s hospital with an aggressive AIDS-related pneumonia. The man’s intelligent banter impressed Henry. But before long, his patient was silenced by a ventilator. Within weeks, he was dead. It hit Henry hard. He was 31 years old, nearly the same age as the patient.

Ice fishermen reminded to be aware of carbon monoxide poisoningWaseca County News, 1/28/15
Carbon monoxide poisoning occurs more often during the heating months. In 2014, the Minnesota Poison Control System received 514 calls regarding carbon monoxide poisoning with the highest number of calls coming in January and February.

Daughter donates kidney to motherKARE 11, 1/24/15
Some people have suffered more than their share of hard times and heartbreak in life. Carolina Grice may finally have that happy ending she so deserves.

Widowed mother warns of blood clot riskWCCO 4, 1/24/14
Dr. Michael Hu, a vascular surgeon at Hennepin County Medical Center, says pulmonary embolisms happen when blood clots in major veins break off and travel — then block off the lungs.

Dangerously cold weather across the U.S. MyFox NY, 1/8/15
With wind chills plunging into the minus-30s to the minus-50s across Minnesota on Wednesday, Dr. Ryan Fey of the Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis warned that serious frostbite injuries can happen in 10 minutes or less.

How to keep your home free from radonWCCO 4, 1/7/15
You can’t see, smell or taste radon in your home. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t there, according to Dr. Jon Cole of the Minnesota Poison Control System.

“Our volumes have been increasing, especially of our pediatric patients,” Emergency Medicine Dr. Stephen Dunlop of the Hennepin County Medical Center. Dunlop says typically every year there’s a major spike in the number of flu cases — and it’s a week ahead of schedule this year.

Battle against AIDS continuesStar Tribune, 12/2/14Patricia Settles, a senior community health worker at Hennepin County Medical Center, quizzed a visitor about HIV/AIDS at the World AIDS Day resource fair at HCMC.

Letter: Resident raves about Golden Valley ClinicSun Post, 12/2/14
“I just want to write about my really great experience at the Hennepin County Medical Center Golden Valley Clinic on Duluth Street. In particular about Dr. Bryan Nelson and his staff.”

Alexis Liemthongsamout, 19, and her daughter Madysin Murch were in a critical condition after suffering from severe smoke inhalation last week when a fire destroyed their home in St. James, Minnesota.

Mom and baby rescued from St. James fire out of ICUWCCO 4, 11/21/14
Alexis Liemthongsamout and Madysin Murch suffered smoke inhalation last week when a fire started in their mobile home in St. James, which is about 40 miles southwest of Mankato. They were transported to HCMC for care.

Fire survivor fundraiser for Minn. mom, babyKARE 11, 11/21/14In the early morning hours of November 13th, a fire raged through a mobile home in St. James; sleeping inside were Alexis Alexis Liemthongsamout and her daughter, Madisyn.

“I woke up and I saw smoke,” Alexis said recalling the story on Friday from her daughter’s hospital room in the pediatric intensive care unit at HCMC.

Life with PCD: It’s like having a cold 365 days a yearFox 9, 11/20/14
Imagine if having clean, healthy lungs was never a possibility, because you were born with a rare disease that takes that away from you. It’s called primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), and the problems it causes are almost unbelievable.

It’s not an easy diagnosis. “The classic would be a kid that gets a lot of colds, but when other kids rid of their cold and they go on with things, they have to go on antibiotics,” explained Dr. Robert Kempainen.

Health care needs less innovation and more imitationHarvard Business Review, 11/19/14
When organizations overemphasize innovation, they can miss out on the power of imitation – copying existing approaches that actually work. Providers need to actively seek out good ideas that have been tried and refined, bring those ideas home, and adapt them for local use.

We’re not the first to have made this observation – in fact, we cannot remember who we stole it from. It may have been Jon Pryor, the CEO of Hennepin County Medical Center, who mused about appointing a Chief Imitation Officer for his organization – someone whose sole job was to look outside for good ideas to bring home.

Minnesota Ready: How cold is too cold? KSTP 5, 11/17/14
For a lot of us, Minnesota cold is just another part of being Minnesotan. But with the cold comes the danger of frostbite. For Allan Schaefer, the threat of frostbite became a reality.

Former smoker’s story might help you quitFox 9, 11/12/14It has been four months since surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from Michael Mullaney’s lung. A CT scan will reveal if he is still battling the deadly disease. Last March, Mullaney was screened for lung cancer at Hennepin County Medical Center, where they started offering the tests for just $99 dollars, which is a big deal because if you catch the cancer while it’s still in the lungs, there’s a 55 percent survival rate. Once it spreads outside the lungs, that rate drops to less than 5 percent.

HCMC radiologist Dr. Gopal Punjabi said it could have killed him.

Minn. Ready: How serious is frostbite?KSTP 5, 11/10/14
Dr. Ryan Fey at Hennepin County Medical Center has seen his fair share of frostbite. He works in the burn center as a surgeon. He said the biggest risk factor for getting frostbite is alcohol, or substance use.

Fey also said 2013 marked a record high at HCMC for frostbite. There were 200 cases. A normal year has only 25 cases.

Minn. hospitals deal with increasing risk of violenceKARE 11, 11/6/14
At Hennepin County Medical Center, in the heart of downtown Minneapolis, healthcare workers recently took part in an active shooter simulation exercise. A video of the drill shows a man with a gun entering a makeshift hospital emergency triage area.

“We deal with real life and death here every day. It’s one of, I think, the realities of what we need to be prepared for,” said Scott Wordelman, who is HCMC’s vice president of ambulatory administration.

Hennepin Health saves money by housing, employing patientsModern HealthCare, 11/3/14
Hennepin Health was formed in 2012 to manage the medical care and costs of poor adults who gained insurance through Minnesota’s early expansion of Medicaid under Obamacare. Visits to the emergency room dropped by roughly 9% during the first year, as less expensive outpatient visits increased 3% and the percentage of patients who got optimal care for diabetes, asthma and heart disease, though small, grew by 11%, 8% and 23%, respectively.

Poison experts warn about glow sticksKSTP 5, 10/29/14
Last October and November, more than 170 calls for help related to glow sticks came in to the Hennepin Regional Poison Center. Over the phone, experts walk families through the process of flushing the liquid from a child’s throat or eyes.

“We can keep you home a vast majority of the time and not ruin this night and save money to the general healthcare system,” Kirk Hughes with the Minnesota Poison Control System said.

Sick of raking? So are allergy sufferersNW Cable 12, 10/28/14
“If you find you’re affected by mold, it’s important to wear a mask while raking,” said Celia Hemmerich, PA, “or find somebody else to do it for you.”

Minnesota tre trimmer survives 60-foot fallPioneer Press, 10/24/14
23-year-old Eden Hanson of Pierz broke his arm, six ribs and his sternum and lacerated his liver and spleen in the fall this week. Doctors at the Hennepin County Medical Center tell him he likely wouldn’t have survived if he hadn’t been wearing a helmet.

Healthy States Profiles in Health: Dr. Veronica SvetazMinnesota Public Radio, 10/17/14
Being an immigrant is like having a chronic illness, says Dr. Maria Veronica Svetaz, a native of Argentina who runs a health program on Lake Street in Minneapolis tailored to the needs of Latinos. Somehow it never goes away and will always be there, for good and for bad.”

In cities with West African populations, hospitals take extra stepsNew York Times, 10/17/14
In the Minneapolis area, home to the largest Liberian community outside Liberia, Hennepin County Medical Center is doing four-hour drills with fake patients and “focusing on everything, including ‘No, that’s not a big enough wastebasket,’ ” said Dr. John Hick, the medical director for emergency preparedness.

Hill said training has continued as the Minneapolis hospital monitors the situation and follows the recommendations of the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Physician burnout is on the rise (subscription required)Chicago Tribune, 10/14/14
Mark Linzer, director of the division of general internal medicine at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, has been studying physician burnout since 1996. Burnout, he says, is a long-term stress reaction that includes emotional exhaustion, a sense of depersonalization, and a lack of a sense of personal accomplishment.

Local hospitals fight Ebola through hands-on trainingWCCO 4, 10/13/14Emergency room doctors at Hennepin County Medical Center have a series of protective measures they take with quarantined patients. The measures are designed around the fact that Ebola is spread by direct contact with body fluids like blood, sweat and urine.

“Most of the risk occurs if you do have any blood or diarrhea or other stuff on you that has viral particles in it,” Dr. John Hick said. “If you, in the process of taking it off, drag that stuff across your skin, or maybe wipe your eye or something, that’s how most of the health care providers are getting infected.”

St. Anthony Village Children Join International Walk to School Day October 8Lillie News, 10/8/14
Julie Philbrook, Safe Kids of Hennepin County Coordinator, emphasizes the importance of showing children how to walk safely. “Our children learn by mimicking what they see. By walking with them on International Walk to School Day, we can show them how to make good choices when it comes to safety.”

A nearby runner who works as a catheterization lab nurse stopped to help Bergen when he collapsed. He was joined by two bicycle-mounted medics who happened upon the scene and used a portable defibrillator to shock Bergen’s heart, said Mike Rogers, who supervised HCMC paramedics during the marathon.

Minnesota hospitals, health officials say they’re well-prepared for EbolaStar Tribune, 10/4/14
If a suspected Ebola case enters HCMC, a nurse will notify the infection prevention department immediately and make sure that someone is posted outside the patient’s room to record all persons coming and going and ensure that they’re wearing protective clothing, said Mary Ellen Bennett, HCMC’s director of infection prevention.

Samples of bodily fluids would be walked upstairs for lab tests rather than going through the pneumatic tubes, said Dr. John Hick, medical director for HCMC’s emergency medical services. The state Health Department recently got equipment that can confirm the disease within hours rather than days, he added.

Twin Cities health facilities: We’re ready for EbolaPioneer Press, 10/4/14
Mary Ellen Bennett, the hospital’s director of infection prevention, said a patient displaying Ebola-like symptoms would be placed in a negative pressure room, a facility in which air is emitted through a filter and separate exhaust system, rather than recirculated through the building. The patient also would be given supportive care, meaning hydration and nutrition assistance.

Inside Hennepin County Medical Center’s Isolation UnitKSTP 5, 10/3/14Medical Director John Hick explained wearing the proper protective wear is crucial. They have 800 kits with full protective gear for anyone who has to go inside the isolation unit. Hicks explains, the process of taking that gear off after being exposed to diseases is risky.

Countering Fear of Ebola With Education Where West Africans Live in the U.S.New York Times, 10/3/14
Dr. John L. Hick, the medical director for emergency preparedness at Hennepin County Medical Center, said the hospital is also developing new protocols for testing blood and disposing of waste from patients suspected of having Ebola. And it is trying to calm medical personnel anxious about encountering patients with the virus, he said.

“We’re trying to help everyone feel more comfortable that we’ve got the protective equipment, we’ve got the protocols in place,” Dr. Hick said. “People are much more interested now that the case in Dallas has actually made it real: ‘Yes, we’ve got to get our game face on.’ ”

Diver survives close callKARE 11, September 30, 2014
Terry Begnoche has logged 40 years of diving experience. But his last few dives at Hennepin County Medical Center’s hyperbaric chamber are the ones that matter the most.

Single mom and amputee faces a new life without fingersDairyland Peach, 9/28/14
Exposed to the below zero temperatures for over 45 minutes, Brianna Wilson’s body was beginning to shut down. First responders arrived at the scene and began covering her body with heated blankets. She was airlifted to Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) and spent a few weeks there recovering.

Rare treatment saves diverStar Tribune, 9/27/14
Terry Benoche’s decompression sickness was so severe that saving him required a helicopter rescue to Marquette, Mich., and then a low-altitude flight to Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis — where doctors tried a rare treatment protocol that they looked up in the U.S. Navy Diving Manual.

Cat bites, infections on the riseFox 9, 9/25/14
Cat bites are often perceived as an inconvenient prick and pinch, but they can lead to serious infections, hospitalization and even amputation if left untreated — and HCMC is treating more patients each year.

Mother of U of M student warns of “marijuana wax” Fox 9 News, 9/18/14
Dr. Charlie Reznikoff is an addiction medicine specialist at HCMC, and he also sits on the state’s medical marijuana task force. Since marijuana wax is readily available in other states and can travel easily, he’s not surprised to hear it’s in Minnesota now.

Nursing student reaps benefits of summer internship at HCMCGustavus Adolphus College, 9/12/14
After three years of coursework and clinical experiences through.the Nursing Department at Gustavus Adolphus College, senior Molly Ashwill was looking for a summer internship last spring that would allow her to gain more experience in the clinical setting. Ashwill found what she was looking for through the Hennepin County Medical Center’s (HCMC) Student Nurse Internship Program.

HIV drug works, but convincing people to use it is a hard sellMinnesota Public Radio, 9/7/14
“HIV is not the fearsome entity that it once was, HIV and AIDS,” said Dr. Keith Henry, an HIV specialist at Hennepin County Medical Center. “If this had been available in the ’80s and ’90s, interest would be much higher because people were panicked.”

The Drive: Making the case for bike helmetsStar Tribune, 9/7/14
Julie Philbrook, a trauma prevention specialist at Hennepin County Medical Center, said that wearing a helmet can reduce the chances of sustaining a head injury by 85 percent and a brain injury by 88 percent.

Helping kids handle back-to-school stressKARE 11, 9/2/14
Students can be full of nerves as they head back to the classroom. But there are ways parents and guardians can help. It’s important to know that kids feeling stress will not always say it.

“They may say things like they don’t feel well, they have a tummy ache, maybe they’re not sleeping as well. Perhaps they may be a little more irritable than usual,” explained Dr. Julie Joseph-Di Caprio, Chief of Pediatrics at Hennepin County Medical Center.

New vaccination requirements for studentsKARE 11, 9/1/14
Students entering the 7th grade are now required to receive the tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough vaccine, known as T-DAP. Elizabeth Olson, who works at The Clinic at Walmart, operated by Hennepin County Medical Center, said her branch has seen double the amount of patients.

Ebola virus: the newest threatWCCO Radio, 8/30/14
“In the countries where Ebola is spreading… there’s such a stigma around the disease, and a fear of quarantine,” explains Dr. John Hick, Emergency Physician at HCMC. “It’s so easily spread from an infected person.”

Back to school physicals are importantSun Post, 8/28/14
“Back-to-school physicals are as important as filling that new backpack with school supplies,” explains Natalie Ikeman, PA from HCMC’s Golden Valley Clinic. “It is the perfect opportunity to get needed immunizations, have a physical exam and discuss important factors that affect a child’s health and well-being.”

The new vaccine law requires students entering seventh grade to get the Tdap vaccine for tetanus, diptheria, bacterial meningitis and whooping cough.

Learn hands-only CPR at the FairKARE 11, 8/29/14
It takes just minutes to learn how to save a life. At the Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) booth in the Health Fair 11 building, you can learn hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). HCMC’s Robin Lewis explained that doing only chest compressions works because there is is generally enough oxygen in the blood.

Does shaking hands with your doctor spread disease?Star Tribune, 8/27/14
The notion of outlawing the doctor-patient handshake pits two values sacred to the medical profession against each other: do no harm vs. compassionate care. Many doctors say banning this small yet meaningful connection would erode the human touch central to the medical practice.

“It’s a really important part of being a caregiver,” said Dr. Robert Quickel, a surgeon at Hennepin County Medical Center.

An app for the fast-paced ERStar Tribune, 8/24/14Every minute counts at a hospital emergency department. But the hectic, unpredictable pace can make it a surprisingly inefficient workplace. Emergency Dept. workers began testing Synapse Blue software after Dr. Scott Joing , an HCMC physician and adviser to the company, started tinkering with the software and decided to get the product into the hands of front-line hospital staff.

State Fair: It helps to have a game planWCCO Radio, 8/21/14
Having a plan is comforting to many because it’s psychologically soothing. “Going to the State Fair is a ritual for many people,” said Hennepin County Medical Center psychologist Matthew Syzdek. He said the fact that the fair doesn’t change much over time is key.

Making “other” patient data count in MinneapolisHealth Data Management, 8/18/14
“The big problem in healthcare is that all our systems and data sources are focused on the medical diagnoses, and all the risk scoring tools revolve around the medical diagnoses, and in our population that’s only about 10 to 15 percent of the story,” says Nancy Garrett, chief analytics officer of HCMC.

Minnesotans throw cold water on ALSKARE 11, 8/16/14“About 30,000 people in the United States have this disease,” said Dr. Ezgi Tiryaki, from HCMC’s ALS Center of Excellence. “In Minnesota, we think it is around 500 at any given time.”

Ice Bucket Challenge raises “unprecedented” $13.3M for ALSFox 9, 8/16/14When Dr. Ezgi Tiryaki was asked to take the Ice Bucket Challenge to raise money and awareness of ALS, she said it was the least she could do — and she wasn’t alone. A few children, other members of the HCMC staff and a even other neurologists and doctors did the same.

Maternal Mental IllnessScience Magazine, 8/15/14
For many depressed mothers, symptoms begin during pregnancy and may also include disabling anxiety, explains this article co-authored by Dr. Helen Kim, a perinatal psychiatrist and medical director of HCMC’s Mother-Baby Program.

Hospitals embracing a “baby-friendly” approach to birthStar Tribune, 8/15/14
Hennepin County Medical Center has been working toward its own baby-friendly certification, and since the beginning of its program has increased the percentage of mothers exclusively breast-feeding in the hospital from 24 percent to 62 percent, said Dana Barr, a family medicine staff physician at the HCMC Richfield Clinic.

HCMC celebrates 25 years of traumaECM Publications, 8/12/14
“What I think is unique about Hennepin is that we have this tremendous commitment to trauma specifically, that this is something we’ve done for long before the 25 years of verification,” said Chad Richardson, HCMC’s director of trauma services.

Robin Williams’ suicide raises depression awarenessNW Cable 12 News, 8/12/14
“Depression is something that is very real. It’s something that’s physical so when you become depress you physiologically have a lot of different experiences,” said Dr. Matthew Syzdek, a clinical psychologist with Hennepin County Medical Center.

A quarter-century of trauma careSun Post, 8/8/14
Dr. Chad Richardson, who did a six-year residency at HCMC and has been on staff for the better part of the last 12 years, feels that a huge part of the trauma center’s success lies with the dedication of the doctors, nurses and administrators that have walked its halls for the last 25 years.

Persistence, screenings help local cancer survivorNW Cable 12, 8/5/14
“If you’re having persistent symptoms that are bothering you and they’re not resolved by the visits that you have, to keep up and be persistent,” said Dr. Rachael Rapacz at the HCMC Clinic in Brooklyn Park.

EbolaWCCO Radio, 8/2/14
“There’s no native Ebola in the United States,” explains Dr. Rebecca Zadroga, an infectious disease specialist at HCMC, in an interview with Esme Murphy.